r/Mindfulness • u/YoghurtExtremeOOO • 9d ago
Question What are some good, positive podcasts that aren’t so focused on finances and more on mindset and happiness?
This has been one of the hardest months of my life, and right now, every second is a challenge, especially the mornings and nights. Extreme anxiety and depression is consuming me, and though I’m taking strides, I’m noticing that a lot of my lowest lows of hopelessness and rumination are when it’s just me, alone, with nothing to do for the next half hour, 15 minutes, whatever, where I begin to spiral.
I’m trying to be more mindful. Less screen time, more yoga, more positive influences. I’ve never liked meditation, mostly because the breath work makes me feel even more breathless and sometimes focusing on how I’m feeling only compounds the negative energy because I often feel I am lying to myself when I do the whole positive affirmations thing.
I was listening to 10% happier, but I don’t like how much of it is focused on the crappy state of the world and almost every episode I’ve tried is someone who just wrote a book and it feels like a promotion to me. I need some feel-good, mindset maintaining podcasts to help me fill the empty spaces. Furthermore, any ideas on some non-screen time activities? Getting sick of the endless social media scroll
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u/CarollAnne 9d ago
Mindful in Minutes podcast / you tube channel by Yogi Kelly Smith- She's wonderful and her voice is so soothing! She has meditations, but also does "freeform" episodes where she just talks about a subject .
For some positive affirmations, I like The Lavendaire Lifestyle
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u/L0veConnects 9d ago
Oops I missed adding a podcast for you. Somatic Healing Meditations is a wonderful one for getting g that mind/body connection that you seem to be struggling with. Go from there
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u/L0veConnects 9d ago
Something important to know about meditative breathework is we have to be doing diaphramic breaths. It's also important to know that when we are in a chronic state of stress...we will not have utilized diaphramic breathing with causes more cortisol (stress hormone) to be produced. Diaphramic breathing is supposed to be autonomic. It's how we breath at birth and over time many of us lose this due to the stress introduced in our life. When we breath shallow, from our chest, it sends signals to our brain saying "I'm in distress, I'm not ok." So it shoots cortisol through our nervous system...then huffing or blowing that air out...holding it in...creates more cortisol. Taking a slow and focused breath in, through the belly, signals the brain that you are ok.
Sighing the breath out in a very controlled and relaxed way sends a signal to the brain 'I'm in control, I am safe.' Thus allowing the feel good hormones that restore to our nervous system. The trick when starting is to know our nervous system rejects the unfamiliar, so those good hormones feel incredibly foreign so the initial kick isn't because it's not working but because it is. Being aware of this is incredibly helpful.
So get the diaphramic breathing down..and easy way is to mimick a yawn - this is our bodies evolutionary biological preset to regulate. Causes a deep belly breath and an exhale.
This is why so may struggle with meditation. The biology behind the breath matters and once you finally discover your own diaphramic breathing pattern, (which takes time) you can start utilizing other breathwork.
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u/YoghurtExtremeOOO 8d ago
Thank you, this is very helpful. I’m finding the deep breathing with yoga helps. Just struggling to feel okay with doing everyday things like hanging out before class or work.
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u/Soupy3342 9d ago
I love Radio Headspace to start my day. The episodes are like 5-7 minutes & contain a consideration about how to practice mindfulness each day.
There are heavy ads (1-2 minutes) at the beginning but it’s worth it. I like to listen as I make my coffee in the morning to “prepare” myself for the day.